Sunday, May 4, 2014

Gratitude is the fairest blossom...

                               

My life isn't perfect.
Sometimes life is a perfect sunny afternoon and the hubs comes home from work early 
and we go on a drive together in the country and share root beer floats.
Sometimes life is disagreeing,  misunderstanding, hurting each other, making up.
Sometimes life is celebrating at a baby shower for our daughter and soon to be born grandson,
(our daughter is pregnant for the first time in thirteen years of marriage).
Sometimes life is a text from a loved one with heart wrenching news about one of her children.
Highs and lows, victories and defeats, successes and failures, good times and hard times,
and yet my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude,
because it's the truest truth that God really is good.
All the time.

**********************
Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.
 I continue to count my thanks
piling up gratitude day by day
in my little black journal.
(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#4596-#4620
4-28-14-
-writing a guest post
-pale pink tulips


-sweet smelling lilacs


-laughing with our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter while enjoying our grandson's baseball game


4-29-14-
-coffee with MJ
-a visit with my oldest daughter, son-in-law and two youngest granddaughters
-playing "candy store" with our granddaughters and I'm the customer
 so the two year old calls me "Miss Elizabeth" with the most adorable lisp ever

4-30-14-
-an 86 degree day in April in Portland, Oregon!


-the Hubs coming home from the office early
-enjoying a nice afternoon together

5-1-14-
-May Day!
-in between teaching Bible studies, going out for soft serve DQ cones with a friend
-testimonies shared at Bible study

5-2-14-
-Friday date day with the hubs
-homemade strawberry crepes for breakfast


-both of us enjoying spending our day the same way
-buying some cute clearance sale shoes


5-3-14-
-my daughter's baby shower


-all the ladies who worked hard to make the shower special for her
-my hub's sister driving 4 hours to come to the shower
-drinking a cup of tea and having a good visit with my sister-in-law before bed
-our grandson spending the night with us because he told his mama that he "just needed a break"
 (he's nine, and he made this declaration after getting in trouble for fighting with his sister)

5-4-14-
-Jesus' presence
-going out to our favorite Mexican restaurant with the team that went to Ghana
 and various other ones in our church 
-relaxing and watching a good movie

gratefully yours,

Join the community of gratitude gatherers here...

http://www.aholyexperience.com

14 comments:

  1. Morning Elizabeth,
    I always enjoy reading your gratitude list, and was surprised you have been doing it since 2009 too. I started blogging on May 4, 2009 and have done a Thankful
    Thursday post every Thursday since then, and I had never heard of Ann Voskamp until a blogging friend sent me her book about 2 yrs. or so out.
    and what a delightful book indeed. Have to say doing this post has truly
    transformed my life as a believer, and I would be willing to bet it has done
    the same for you. Keep sharing all those wonderful blessings from the
    Lord, I love how you add the photos in as well. Great post,
    Blessings, Nellie

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  2. Elizabeth, thanks for sharing the 'truest truth'--God IS good, all the time. Your photos always make me smile.

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  3. Dear Elizabeth, I alway look forward to Monday mornings so I can read your post and see your beautiful pictures. My favorite today was the picture of your grandson and his comment about "needing a break". Yes indeed, God is good all the time! Thanks for sharing.

    Debbi

    P. S. What good movie did you watch?

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  4. No matter what is going on, there's never a day without blessings.

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  5. I've been counting since 2009 too! And the presence of Jesus- nothing is sweeter!

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  6. Love your shoes and they look good on you. I love it when God gives us good bargains.

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  7. Elizabeth, you are so right...even in the midst of confusion and uncertainty, there is always something to be thankful for. What a lovely post to remind us of that!

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  8. I love your gratitude list, Elizabeth. For some reason the past week I've not been very good at writing mine down. I know God extends grace but this is really something I want to do. I can always tell the difference in my mood when I stop counting from when I'm counting. It really does work! Thank you for sharing with us.

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  9. Even the simplest moment taken...slowed...a soft whisper of "thank you, Lord"...can make our days so much happier especially during stressful or frustrating times. He IS there, walking beside us, every single moment of our lives asking in his quiet voice, "Do you feel My love? Do you see what I've blessed you with today?" I love that!

    oxo laurie

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  10. Blessings abound all around. I love reading your lists every week, Elizabeth. And baseball brings back memories of Jacob playing. ;)

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  11. "Piling up gratitude"...love that phrase and your list!

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  12. What joy!!! Thank you for sharing your gratitude list; you have blessed me and I thank you!! Love your pictures and the daughter expecting her first!! That indeed is such a grace from God.

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  13. Lovely post and lovely pictures. Gratitude is a beautiful thing, thank you for sharing your list.

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  14. So excited about your grandbaby to be--and after 13 years of marriage. And I do love your shoes! Happy Mothers Day!

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